SDF Made Mistake By Walking Out on Guillaume Soro-Dr Susungi

 By Dr. Susungi-Courtesy (chiefsusungi.com)

Dr Susungi

Let me start by telling you a true story.  In 1996 Chairman John Fru Ndi travelled through Abidjan to Mali to attend some socialist meeting there with President Alpha Oumar Konare and Ibrahim Boubacar Keita (who is now the President) (both of them socialists).  On his way back he got stuck at the airport in Abidjan because he did not have a visa to Cote d’Ivoire.  While killing time at the airport he was noticed by an Ivorian policeman because he was wearing his trademark traditional dress.  When the Chairman explained his visa status to the policeman, the officer reported the matter to his boss.  Before long, the matter had been transmitted through channels to the highest ranks of the police to the Minister of the Interior and finally to President Henri Konan Bédié.

President Bédié reacted by giving instructions that the Chairman should be given a visa and brought into Abidjan as a guest of the Ivorian government.  He was lodged at Hotel Ivoire.  Before long the Chairman was brought to President Bédié’s home in Cocody where he was received by the Ivorian President.

During his meeting “en tête a tête”, with Chairman John Fru Ndi, the Ivorian President called Laurent Gbagbo ( at that time President of the FPI) and said: “Hey Laurent, j’ai  ton ami  Fru Ndi avec moi dans mon bureau.  Je te l’envoie après”.    In spite of the fact that Henri Konan Bédié and Laurent Gbagbo were political adversaries, the strange camaraderie between them illustrates the fact that politics in Cote d’Ivoire was still being played at a certain level of parliamentary honour.

I speak as a witness to these events and to the fact that the FPI and the SDF are close political parties and that the relationship between the John Fru Ndi and Laurent Gbagbo has been close.   President Laurent Gbagbo came to power on 26 October 2000 following the presidential elections which were organized by Robert Guéi.  But the traumatic events which were to trail  Cote d’Ivoire for ten years started with the attempted coup of 19 September 2002 which gave rise to a rebellion that resulted in the country being split into two.  There is no question about the fact that Mr. Soro Guillaume Kigbafori was a central part of that rebellion.

Following a series of conferences and peace talks in various African cities, a Union Government was formed at the head of which Mr. Soro Guilllaume was named Prime Minister and head of a government by President Laurent Gbagbo himself and he occupied that position from 4 April 2007 to 4 December 2010.   This is the government composition which went to the contested presidential elections of November 2010 following which Soro Guillaume resigned as Prime Minister in the ensuing electoral dispute.  After Alassane Ouattara was sworn in as President on 6 May 2011, Mr. Soro Guillaume resumed the position of Prime Minister which he occupied till 13 March 2012 under Alassane Ouattara.

It is dangerous for us as foreigners (non-Ivorians) to go back to the question of who won and who lost that election of November 2010 because it is a historical fact that the electoral dispute was finally adjudicated  only after the French army pounded the residence of Ivorian President for over two weeks until President Laurent Gbagbo was taken out alive on 6 April 2011.   He was finally sent to the Hague to face charges at the ICC after the current President Alassane Ouattara had been sworn-in as the President of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire.

Subsequent parliamentary elections resulted in the emergence of Mr. Soro Guillaume Kigbafori as the new President of the National Assembly.  It is very dangerous for us as non Ivorians to go back to labeling anyone as “rebel”.  I need not remind you that for a long time certain countries called Nelson Mandela a “terrorist” because of what he had to do at a certain stage of his life.  This brings us to the question as to the moral and political justification of the position of the SDF in response to the invitation to the National Assembly in Cameroon.

The Visit of Soro Guillaume to Cameroon

I am of the opinion that the SDF made a mistake in taking such a public position against the visit of Soro Guilllaume in the capacity of the President of the Ivorian National Assembly and instructing its deputies to walk out on the speech of the Ivorian leader.  To characterize Soro Guillaume as a “Chief Rebel” is a mistake.  He is now the President of the National Assembly and an integral part of constituted authority in the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire.   This does not call on anyone to like him or to love him.  It calls on everyone to acknowledge and to respect the office because Cote d’Ivoire is a nation that is above Soro Guillaume, Alassane Ouattara, Konan Bédié and Laurent Gbagbo or any other person who might,  at one time or another,  be called upon by political circumstances to occupy any of the constitutional offices of the land.

It was not necessary for the SDF NEC to pass a resolution distancing itself from the visit of Soro Guillaume to the National Assembly.  There are certain political situations which call for a response at a statesman level rather than at a streetsman level. The SDF could have intervened with Cavaye Djibrill the President of the National Assembly to negotiate for a private visit to the Chairman by Soro Guillaume as a condition for the SDF MPs to remain in the Assembly Hall during Soro Guillaume’s speech.    This visit would have enabled Mr Soro Guillaume to brief the Chairman John Fru Ndi on the purpose of his visit and it would have also given the Chairman the opportunity to let Mr. Soro Guilllaume know what the SDF thinks about the events that took place in Cote d’Ivoire.  It would have been a very suitable occasion for the SDF to call for the release of all political prisoners in Cote d’Ivoire and to summon the Ivorian authorities to do more for reconciliation.  If all of this had been done, Mr. Soro Guillaume would have left Cameroon with a completely different view of Cameroonian democracy and the SDF would have emerged the real beneficiary of the visit of Soro Guillaume to Cameroon. Cameroon/ Cote d’Ivoire relations would have been put at a completely different level.

But the SDF decision has put them in a corner and they have emerged gaining nothing out of their approach in handling this event.   In fact they are the big losers.  I can state with full authority that Laurent Gbagbo will be of the opinion that the SDF made a mistake in handling the matter the way they did.   If consulted, Laurent Gbagbo would have encouraged Chairman John Fru Ndi to receive Soro Guillaume who is a mere 42 year old young man, holding a very important position in his country.  He wants to reach out and talk to people in a country like Cameroon where most senior positions in the country are still held by much older people.  That is why more and more Ivorian leaders are coming to Cameroon.  If the Chairman had remembered the way that President Henri Konan Bédié received him in 1996, I am sure that he would have handled the Soro Guillaume visit in a different way.

How to repair the damage

There are certain mistakes which are difficult to correct and we should strive to avoid making them.   But any mistake can be corrected once it is acknowledged that it was a mistake.  The SDF needs to move quickly to repair the damage.  If anyone is interested in knowing how to repair the damage, let them contact me.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Ivorian Rebel Leader at the National Assembly: SDF MPs Storm out; CPDM MPs Give Standing Ovation

There was anger and frustration in the air at the Cameroon National Assembly today, June 11, 2014 when visiting Ivorian House Speaker Hon. Guillaume Soro entered the House. Considered as the man who betrayed Gbagbo, former Ivorian Rebel leader, Hon. Guillaume Soro now masquerading as House Speaker has been sucked into the political drama of the Cameroon National Assembly where boycotts and walk-outs are established menus.

However, this is the first time that Members of Parliament of the leading opposition Social Democratic Front-SDF have walked out in anger to express their disapproval of visitor. The most interesting part of the drama is that while SDF MPs stormed out, Members of Parliament of the ruling Cameroon People’s Democratic Movement on the other hand gave the visiting Ivorian House Speaker a standing ovation.  It should be recalled that last weekend the National Executive Council-NEC of the SDF meeting in Buea, distanced selves from the visit.

Besides, allegations are rife at that an emissary of the FPI party of former President Laurent Gbagbo was in Cameroon and exceptionally attended the Buea NEC meeting to lobby SDF support in pressurizing for the release of former Ivorian Head of State, Laurent Gbagbo who is currently undergoing trail for crime against humanity at the Hague.

The Nifty Gritty of Constant Ivorian High Profile Personalities in Cameroon

Ivorian House Speaker arrived Cameroon on June 10, 2014 for a five-day working visit. In less than six months three state personalities have visited Cameroon. Yet public opinion has been wondering what could be their hidden agenda? Of late, Ivorian Minister of Communication was in Cameroon. Speculations were rife at that she came with a bag of money to buy over some media organs. But Cameroon’s own vuvuzela, cum Minister of Communication, Isa Tchiroma Bakary debunked the allegations. The worry is that in less than six months, three high profile state personalities of Quatara regime have visited Cameroon. To cut the story short, Hon. Guillaume Soro has finally let the cat out of the bag. He called on Cameroon to support his country in their reconciliation process. While corroborating the sardonic act of the SDF, he said that if the incident didn’t occur he won’t have been popular in Cameroon. He also said he has come to learn given that he is just 42 years old, added that his life has never been that of roses and that he has seen almost every other thing. To him, if Gbagbo accepted the results of the elections, he (Gbagbo) wouldn't have been at the Hague today.

Harping on the phenomenon called Boko Haram, Soro said that (Boko Haram) is not fighting against injustice, but on the contrary they are fighting institute injustice reasons why it should be destroyed. He also proposed that the Cameroon National Assembly should organize an inter-parliamentary meeting to strategise against the phenomenon given that Hon. Cavaye Yeguie is the doyen of the Club of African Assembly of Speakers. Justifying why he was a rebel, he said revolted against “Ivoirite” just like Ruben Um Nyobe, Martin Paul Samba, and others rebelled against colonial dominance in Cameroon. 

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Transfer of Artifacts: NW Fons Threaten; Mafor Yefon Ama Tutu Pontificates

By Fai Cassian in Bd'da

Ama Tutu Muna

Artifacts of 300 to 400 years old previously at the North West Regional museum have been transferred to the National Meseum in Yaounde, on the instruction of Arts and Culture minister. Mafor Yefon Ama Tutu Muna, Minister of Arts and Culture according to what we gathered ordered for the transfer of the said artifacts on drummed up claims that they were not secured in Bamenda.

The transfer has angered Northwest fons to the point that they are threatening to stage a protest march to the nation capital. North West Fons Union has expressed disgust over the decision by Arts and Culture minister. “We are disappointed that the decision has been taken not only by one of our daughters, but someone who has been honoured with the distinct titles of Mafor by the Meta fons and Yefon by the Nso palace”, one traditional ruler vomited on phone.

Yet, last Sunday June 8, 2014 Mafor Yefon Ama Tutu Muna told CRTV Cameroon Calling that she ordered for the artifacts to be transferred to Yaounde as a solution given that these artifacts were not well taken care of. She claimed that the artifacts shall be brought back in the nearest future but could not say when. In the desperate attempt to clear the air, Arts and Culture minister said “what happened was that the artifacts were removed from the regional museum and stocked somewhere in the delegation. They are objects of 300 to 400 years”. She said the artifacts were not properly kept and that there are about 4000 to 6000 objects. “we have done an inventory and every time we go back to check the inventory, one or two have disappeared”, she added. She claimed that once they got report that someone was seen with an object at the airport but regretted that the ministry doesn’t have controllers at the airport. She questioned whether it was good for the objects to be left unsecured.

When quizzed on whether the artifacts would be safe in Yaounde, Arts and Culture minister responded in another rhetorical question, hear her: “Who says they are not safe here? Have they come to inspect where the museum is? Before you begin to say something is not safe, have you come to the ministry to verify?”.

Public opinion in the Northwest is aghast on the transfer of the artifacts. The Paramount ruler of Mankon, Fon Angwafo, and the President of the Northwest Fons Union, Senator Fon Teche and others are quoted by newspaper reports to have said that the artifacts should be brought back. 

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Meet Armstrong Fombi; the Creative Young Entrepreneur

Armstrong Fombi

Albert Einstein once said that "To raise new questions, new possibilities, to regard old problems from a new angle, requires creative imagination and marks real advance in science" but I will contextualize this statement by borrowing from Peter Drucker who said that "Innovation is the specific tool of entrepreneurs, the means by which they exploit change as an opportunity for a different business or a different service. It is capable of being presented as a discipline, capable of being learned, capable of being practiced. Entrepreneurs need to search purposefully for the sources of innovation, the changes and their symptoms that indicate opportunities for successful innovation. And they need to know and to apply the principles of successful innovation." To talk about innovative ideas is o talk about Armstrong Fombi, the Chief Executive Officer of ARMSTRONG-FOMBILLION GROUP, and the creative ideas company. This young innovative and bulk of talent popularly known as KING ARMSTRONG DeGREAT, is equally a visionary entrepreneur, Journalist and cultural activist. In Bamenda where h lives, he is being celebrated for  leading a continent wide advocacy campaign aimed at eradicating the evil act of pirating products from the “African Creative Industry. 

        Born on April 16th 1975, Armstrong Fombi, started his journey in the creative industry at a very tender age. He took interest in singing and acting in nursery school stage presentations. In primary school, he started drawing, constructing toy buildings, writing songs, listening regularly to his favourite artist - Jimmy Cliff, writing fan mails to “Reggae Time” an 80’s show on former “Radio Bamenda”, and also became a member of the “Bamenda Red Cross Band”. In 1985, he attended his first professional music concert and also recorded his first demo with his father’s radio cassette recorder and a local guitar, which he crafted. While in primary school, he was a regular visitor to the defunct Bamenda Museum and Cultural Centre, and also found strong interest in reading magazines and newspapers, which he often got from his father’s vast print media collection.    

        His entrepreneurial spirit started manifesting as a student in the prestigious Cameroon Protestant College (CPC Bali) at aged 13, when he created TANA (Two “A” News Agency), a campus based Information portal, whereby he will go to the school library, cull various human interest stories and re - write them out in briefs, on A3 size sheets, then paste them up twice a week in the class room for his mates and teachers to read. Interestingly, TANA still exists today as a Bamenda based diversified information and news agency renamed FombiTANA. In 1989, still in CPC Bali, he applied to the International Youth Service and received Pen Pal forms with which he connected students to foreign Pen Pals, in return for 300 CFA per form.

        He kept on doing musical performances and sketches on campus, and in 1990, adopted his first showbiz name “Ramzy”. In 1991, he teamed up with four school mates and created a music group called “Busy Boys On The Track”. During the long holidays of 1991, he went solo and started taking dance lessons at GRAFIGANG, a defunct dance school in Bamenda, while writing songs, and performing in talent shows. In 1994, he adopted a different showbiz name “Dazzling Fombi” and was already a prominent Afro hip-hop artist on the underground music scene in Bamenda with a few demo recordings to his credit.

        In 1995, aged 20, the challenges of getting a record deal and a failed attempt to get a scholarship to study in Berkllee College of Music, USA, motivated him to venture as a creative entrepreneur by creating DAZFOM Entertainment, a small event production label. In 1996, he applied to the Cameroon’s Ministry Of Culture - North West Delegation and he became an authorised Cultural and Show Business Promoter, operating under the label DAZFOM Entertainment as CEO.

       His first event initiative was in September 1996, when he organised a “black dress code” event to commemorate the death of Rap Legend TUPAC AMARU SHAKUR. Then in December 1996, he put together the highly successful “Bamenda Amateur Music Awards” produced to round off a three month weekly talent show, which he co - organised with Master NgwaNgwa and Hard Pee. From 1996 up till 2000, under the canopy of DAZFOM Entertainment, he focused on Event Production, mostly concerts for underground artists and at the same time studying for a 1st Degree Programme in Performing Arts in the University Of Yaoundé I, Cameroon.

      In 2001, a year after the liberalization of Cameroon’s Audio-Visual sector, he changed the name from DAZFOM Entertainment to ARMSTRONG-FOMBI OUTFLOW, and started producing Radio and Television Commercials, as well as commenced work on his company’s first publication called UPKONTRI. The same year, he was awarded a CERTIFICATE OF HONOUR as a cultural promoter by Cameroon’s Ministry Of Culture - North West Delegation.

     In Early 2002, with the first issue of UPKONTRI soon to be released, he realised the need to restructure the company by creating three subsidiaries namely: FombiReadable - a magazine and newspaper editing and publishing company, DAZFOM - a full service variety events company and Fombitaizing - a boutique advertising agency specializing in the conception and production of Radio and TV Commercials. By July 2002, in his capacity as executive editor, FombiReadable, a wholly owned subsidiary of ARMSTRONG-FOMBI OUTFLOW, released the 1st issue of “UPKONTRI” an Arts and Showbiz Publication.

     In 2003, he became the founding CEO of BASBEE (Bamenda Association Of Show Business Entrepreneurs and Executives). And between 2003 and 2004, he produced and hosted a full season of the highly rated independent radio show titled “DIOBORIM” which aired on the Bamenda based radio station “Abakwa FM”. By mid 2004, he started and completed a diploma course in “Broadcast Journalism” at the Centre For Biblical Studies (CBS) School of Broadcast Journalism.

     Two years after the successful launch of UPKONTRI, he started working on the creation process of another publication and in November 2004, he released “PIVI” a tabloid publication from the stables of FombiReadable. And in 2005, he created another subsidiary called Dazzlingfombi STUDIO, and started producing pilots for independent TV Shows like “Fombilystik”, “DIOBORIM TV Version” “UPKONTRI Lively”, and “HippiAfrica”, which he pitched to Cameroonian TV stations like STV and Canal 2, but to no avail. Under Dazzlingfombi STUDIO, he began producing corporate videos for clients like the top Yaoundé based marketing and communications company Regie Star, PNEU Bamenda, TOPROC Finance, etc, and by the end of 2005, he received the “WORLD VISION AWARD” for most promising publisher.

      In 2006, he applied and was accredited as the pioneer Cameroon Representative of the prestigious African Movie Academy Awards (AMAA). Later that year, he started the music subsidiary of ARMSTRONG-FOMBI OUTFLOW, called FOAWMI, a record label under which we released “Golden Age Souljah”, the debut solo album by Afro Hip-Hip star Fusi. By the start of 2007, Armstrong Fombi, was already becoming a cultural and media entrepreneur to reckon with in Anglophone Cameroon. And in March 2007, launched “BamendaAlive”, his third publication from the stables of FombiReadable.

      In 2008, he conceived and started “UPKONTRI Discussion Forum”, a made-for-TV event from the stable of our events unit DAZFOM. The event is aimed at discussing ways forward for the creative industry. That same year, he also conceived and started the annual “Miss Beautyvigence Leadership Conference”, as a prelude to the annual Miss BeautyViGence Pageant, which he later added to the in-house event portfolio at DAZFOM. By mid 2008, he finally changed his company’s name from ARMSTRONG-FOMBI OUTFLOW to ARMSTRONG-FOMBILLION GROUP, and also adopted the title “KING” based on his “Born Again Christian” believe.

     The year 2009, started with King Armstrong officially called to the “2009 African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) College of Screeners”, as a member. Again in 2009, he included training to his company’s service portfolio and started organising and offering short periodical training courses in selected domains in Arts and Media, like “Event Management” and “Stage, Radio and TV Presenting”.  Most significantly in mid 2009, he started conceiving and writing a business plan entitled “ARMSTRONG-FOMBILLION GROUP VISION 2018”.

      He spent most of 2010, writing and fully developing various TV Show concepts for

Dazzlingfombi STUDIO. Then in 2010, he was called again to the “African Movie Academy Award (AMAA) College of Screeners”, as a member.

      At the start of 2011, he created another subsidiary called “Fombitaleno” a talent representation and Licensing Agency, representing a string of artists.

     In February 2012, he launched the “BAVENTI  FESTIVAL-MARKET PROJECT, a pan African event with the first edition billed to run from November 28th – December 1st, 2014 in Bamenda, Cameroon, being organised DAZFOM. Then in July 2012, called to be Chief Judge at the 2012 BBT “BAMENDA BEST TALENT”, a multi Talent Show organised by “Talent World Organisation. In mid 2012, he was awarded the “RED FEATHER AWARD FOR BEST SHOWBIZ ENTREPRENEUR”. Then in August 2012, he was selected among 13 African Cultural Leaders to attend the 2012 “African Leadership Training  Course” at the African Arts Institute, Cape Town, South Africa. In the last quarter 2012, he conceived and launched yet another publication “GOCO MARKET” a business journal from the stables of FombiReadable. In December 2012, he completed the “ARMSTRONG-FOMBILLION VISION 2018”, which is actually an organic business expansion plan that will transform ARMSTRONG-FOMBILLION GROUP into Africa’s global vertically integrated creative ideas company with at least 30 fully operational subsidiaries before December 2018. NOTE: All 30 subsidiaries have been fully conceived and branded and work is in progress to launch those that are not yet fully operational.

     In 2013, he officially announced the “GOCO ECONOMIC SUMMIT”, to be held in December 2014. organised by DAZZFOM, “GOCO ECONOMIC SUMMIT” focuses on Policies, Investment and Growth in the nation’s economy.

    In 2014, he conceived and officially launched the “Fombigalleseum ART PRIZE” a Fine Arts Contest aimed at promotion and celebrating the domain of Fine Arts. The first eve “Fombigalleseum ART PRIZE” awards in two categories “Painting” and “Sculpture”, will take place during the BAAVENTI FESTIVAL-MARKET closing dinner party on December 1st 2014, in Bamenda.

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

World Redemption Prayer-Ntumfor Nico Halle

Unfathomable God,

Your children all over the world in agony

Ntumfor Nico Halle

Come before your throne of grace

With broken hearts bleeding profusely

Having observed and experienced

With disgust, shock, consternation and deceit

The conflicts/war that are ravaging lives

Of millions of your children.

All of these are as a result of greed, hatred, power and all forms of manipulation.

Merciful Lord,

We come before you and condemn in the hardest of terms

The recent abduction of nearly 300 school girls

In our neigbouring Northern Nigeria

By a group of religious fundamentalists.

Also, the recent kidnappings in the Northern part of Cameroon

Of some men of God and foreigners

Creating an atmosphere of fear and insecurity.

We also bring before you Lord

The flood, road accidents, disease, poverty and unemployement

That are taking the lives of millions of your children in Africa in particular

And the world in general.

Similarly, the level of moral decadence

Corruption, embezzlement, greed and wanton waste of natural resources,

Creating more sufferings is brought before your throne of grace

Is Africa not the richest of the Continent in the world,

O Lord?

Why are your children O Lord

Wallowing in total abject poverty

While a few are immersed in arrogant opulence?

We call on you oh Lord to look down on us with pity.

Gracious Lord,

We learn of mass killings and maiming of your children,

O which the world has given a deaf ear and even fueling them.

Dear Lord

We hear of peace, but peace is a scarce dream.

Merciful Lord,

Your children in Central African Republic, Sudan, Libya, Syria, Ukraine, Iraq, Palestine,

North Korea, Northern part of Nigeria, etc are presently witnessing untold blood bath.

All Merciful Father,

We have asked several questions without answers:

Who is manufacturing arms and who is buying them?

Are the arms manufactured to kill animals or your children?

Our God of Justice and Peace,

We invite you to cause the destruction of arms in the entire world;

To halt the proliferation of weapon of mass destruction.

We pray for your love to reign in the world.

With the presence of your

Love, there would be Justice

With Justice, there would be Peace

With Peace, your children will live in Harmony,

Loving one another and exploiting the huge resources

You have blessed them with for their common good

Eternal God,

Teach world leaders to be humble and to fear You

As this is the beginning of wisdom.

Teach them how to build

Peace, how to share Peace,

How to preach Peace, how to be reconciled with one another,

How to forgive one another and how to live in total harmony with one another.

Prince of Peace

Come to our hearts.

You said in Your words in 2 Chronicles 7:14

That if your people who are called by your name,

Seek your face, pray and confess their sins,

You will hear their prayers, forgive them and heal their land

Lord, may You hear our prayers and heal the world.

We pray that the Clergy, Laity and all your children

Should get on their knees, come to you with contrite hearts

And call upon You to heal the world.

Our Loving Father, we are equally sick to see huge resources

That could be used for the good of your children

Wasted in the purchase of arms and the recruitment of armies in Africa.

Lord, please change this order.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.

Our Apha and Omega

Teach your children to understand

That no one has the right to take away lives.

We know that You will bring everything under control

As nothing can ever be above You.

If You are for us, who can be against us.

Lord, we are waiting for your transformational grace

On us all in the world.

Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer

Amen 

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Latest Gossips from Camer.. Lions Go, Go and Bring us More Trouble

Country people, happy Sunday to you all. Permit me congratulate Popol for his winning the African Peace Award. You know ever since Popol and Abasanjo worked path calmly for the peaceful settlement of the Bakassi Crisis, voices have been heard arguing why the two statesmen should have been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. Finally, the Pan-African Lawyers Union of the AU has taken the bull by the horns. At last, Africans have started seeing themselves objectively. Thabo Mbeki, former South African President was the man in-charge who handed the award to Popol.

Country people, I hope you all saw what I saw over CTV, that Popol for the first time hooped a Cameroonian. Lucky Akere! He is the first Cameroonian to have been hooped by Popol publicly. In fact, you should understand that Popol was very happy and felt accomplished, to have been recognized.

If there is anyone that deserves a tab on the back for initiating the idea of a Noble Peace Prize for Popol and Abasanjo, it is the acclaimed Ntumfor Barrister Nico Halle. I hope it is not that idea that has been hawked given that the project was unfortunately slaughtered by the Northwest dreams killers at the last minute during the 50^th Anniversary celebration of Cameroon Armed Forces in Abakwa last December 2010.

Country people, have you heard that Boko Haram insurgents attacked a village in the Northern Region of Cameroon on Saturday, June 7? I hear the BIRs dealt with the insurgents. At Tourou in the Far North, 118 magidas (Boko Haram) gave up the ghost while two patriotic BIRs gave theirs for defending the territorial integrity of Cameroon. The other day, your Writtam-pen got a hint that some 28 militants of Boko Haram were picked in Bafoussam. The question is ho did they found themselves in Bafoussam? I hope you understand why the President of the Senate, Niat recently organized a meeting grouping all the living forces to support Popol’s decision to declare war on Boko Haram. Popol said it and Cameroon is. Hope Lucky Goodluck of Naija has seen the how far of Popol even in negotiating for the release of those abducted. The Italian Priests and Canadian Nun were released yet the Chiko Girls are still missing. I do not want to know whether ransom was paid. You remember the controversy surrounding the lasered banknotes paid to Boko Haram by the French government that were later dictated in the hands of some government officials. Papa fire who said that our military were trained for public ceremonies has back paddled. John Ntarinkon commended the efforts of the BIR in fighting the Boko Haram insurgents. John Ntarinkon who was speaking in Buea after the meeting of the National Executive Council-NEC of Sofa Don Finish-SDF made it very clear that all the living forces should collaborate with the forces of law and order, administration, chiefs, fons et cetera stamp-out the phenomenon of Boko Haram. NEC members unanimously condemned the act of terrorism after a presentation of the Njong Donatus. Sofa Don Finish also warned against the acquisition of flying coffins in the names of airplanes by government. They acknowledged the fact that the airplanes bought from China were outdated (buy one takes two) that someone somewhere is again siphoning state money.  

Go! Go! Go! Lions go, go, go and bring us more controversies and trouble. The trouble is that in 1994, Cameroonians contributed gombo in what was known as “coups de Coeur”, and that gombo got missing between Paris and New York. It never reached its destination. Since then, players have been working and officials of the Ministry of Sports and FECAFOOD have been chopping. During the last world cup in South Africa, the lions roared out in anger for none payment of match bonuses. Last Saturday after a friendly gala match to say bye-bye to their supporters, the players rejected to collect the national flag from the hands of the Prime Minister. Volker Finke, coach of the Indomitable Lions stepped in to rescue Yang from a public disgrace. Even though analysts say it was the worse diplomatic blunder of the year, the worst came when the Prime Minister spent over 3 hours at the Nsimalen Airport waiting to say bye-bye to the lions. The over 30.000 man-crowd left the airport disappointed.  As Cameroonians watched the drama unfold with a mixture of skepticism and hope, questions and worries have been raised about the fairness of the FECAFOOD-Normalization Committee headed by Massa Jo. Can you imagine that Massa Jo had to borrow money to pay match bonuses for players of the National team? Shame!!!!!!! I told you last year that the Cameroon Football Federation-FECAFOOT has changed to FECAFOOD? In fact, Massa Jo thought that soccer is still pay as you go without knowing that les donnes ont changer entre temps. Can you imagine that the Angolan plane spent an extra day waiting to transport the lions to Brazil?

Have you ever heard the latest controversy putting Mafor Yefon Ama Tutu Muna, Minister of Arts and Culture at loggerhead with traditional rulers? North West Fons have vowed to stage a protest march from Abakwa to Ngola on foot for Mafor Yefon to bring back the artifacts she fraudulently transferred to Yaounde without their approval. Yet Mafor Yefon Ama Tutu Muna whispered over CTV radio that the artifacts were transferred to Ngola for fear that they will all be stolen. (Affair a suivre) 

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Match Bonuses Wahala: After Rejecting National Flag from PM, Lions Refuse to Board Flight

Information reaching indicates that players of the Cameroon National soccer team have refused to quit their hotel rooms in protest to ongoing wahala over the FIFA match shared bonuses. According to classified source, the players have refused to board their flight for Brazil for the 2014 World Cup. Yet the players have been mute but have been showing their disapprovals only through actions. On Saturday June 7, the players rejected to collect the National flag from the Prime Minister, Philemon Yang. To avoid the public embarrassment, head coach Volker Finke stepped in to receive the flag. Apparently, they have decided to remain in their hotel rooms rather than going to the airport to board the flight.

The chairman of the Normalization Committee of the Cameroon Football Federation- FECAFOOT is presently on a hot stool after last Saturday incident at the Amadou Ahidjo stadium during the gala encounter with Moldovia. It should be recalled that in 1994, Cameroonians were taken aback when money generously donated to support the national soccer team ended in private pockets. Joseph Owona, chairman of the Normalization Committee last Friday offered 6% FIFA match bonuses for the first round, 20% for the 2^nd round, 30% for the quarter-finals, 40% for the semi-finals and 50% for the finals and third position play-off. The issue of match bonuses is acute in Cameroon. It started in 1994, resurfaced in 2011 and 2012. 

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Mayor Accuses DO of Resettling Nigerian Grazers and Incessant Quest for Money

By Fai Cassian Ndi

An atmosphere of stale familiarity now looms in Nwa Sub division, Donga Mantung Division of the North West Region between the mayor of that municipality and the Divisional Officer. The story goes that on May 22, 2014, the mayor of Nwa council, Dr. Ngomfe-Loma David Moloh while presenting his speech during the administrative accounts session said that the main impediment was the fact that he could only realize 35% of the revenue due to a parallel collection by the Nwa administration. Dr. Ngomfe-Loma David Moloh exploded that “the latter has not only reduced council collection; it has aggravated the poverty situation in this poverty stricken council areas where more than 90% of the population live below the poverty line”.

To substantiate this, Dr. Ngomfe-Loma David cited four cases. According to the mayor of Nwa, the Divisional Officer, Tumasang Walters Ngang “for consultative Talks is collecting 250.000 FCFA and three goats”, adding that “this money is of course collected from those who pay our local taxes such as market tolls and business licenses etc”, he emphasized. Dr. Ngomfe-Loma David Moloh further revealed in his speech that “the Divisional Officer has initiated a second Meet-the-People tour- the first of its kind in over fifty years of the existence of this subdivision. This tour mainly to Ardorates is ongoing. Although primarily to collect more money, cows and goats, the problem” according to the mayor” is he (D.O) is indirectly creating another village in an existing and gazette village”.

Harping on the methodology adopted in solving farmer/grazer problems, Dr. Ngomfe-Loma David decried that the Divisional Officer “has set up a one-man-Sub-Agro-Pastoral Commission headed by (him)-self. He disclosed that “farmlands are systematically seized from bare-footed farmers in exchange for cows”. The mayor cited the pathetic case where a piece of farmland belonging to an epileptic woman in Kih, Mbem village was seized and handed to a grazer. “On trying to protest, she was arbitrarily arrested and detained. What released her from detention” Ngomfe said “was her illness” given that “she went into status epilepticus (continuous fitting) and was subsequently released by a sympathetic Gendarme officer”. In addition, Dr. Ngomfe reiterated that the Divisional Officer “has redistributed Communal Trans-humance areas to particular individuals” citing the case in Sih village where allegedly “he is collecting trans-humance taxes and secretly resettling some Nigerian grazers in Faam village and in the Mbaw plain.

The mayor also accuses the Divisional officer again on what he called “Sub-land Commission. According to the mayor, “here again we have a one-man commission headed by him where he is collecting as much as 250.000 FCFA from each disgruntled factions as logistics” In order to validate this one-man show commission the mayor added that “ he (D.O) has resorted to unscientific and unorthodox means of settling land disputes by ‘juju’ swearing. This has been done in the Ngu-Nguri land dispute. Those of Ngum-Ngumkwo, Gom-Koffa, Rom-Nkot and a host of others are to follow suit”.

In his conclusion, the mayor of Nwa outlined that “the Senior Divisional Officer, the population of Nwa subdivision is bitterly disappointed and deeply frustrated with the activities of the Divisional Officer for Nwa subdivision. Through me, the population of Nwa is pleading with you to intervene in order to avoid the huge consequences that may result from the activities of the Divisional Officer and in particular his incessant quest for money”.

Matters Arising

Tongues are still waging in Nwa ever since Dr. Ngomfe-Loma David Moloh made that open declaration. Public opinion in Nwa holds that the open declaration has ignited a cold war between the mayor and the Divisional Officer. Yet when contacted by this reporter to clear the air on the allegations, the Divisional Officer for Nwa, Tumasang Walters said he could not comment on grounds that he who alleges must proof. Nevertheless in a chat with this reporter Dr. Ngomfe-Loma David confirmed that last Monday, the DO was in one of the villages where he reportedly used the same ‘juju’ to settle land dispute between two villages. He also told us that after the administrative accounts session, the Divisional Officer also took a decision to suppress all the council gates in the municipality, “why only now”, he questioned.

When we arrived the Nguri palace, the fon was not at hand to confirm or refute allegations on the settlement of land disputes by swearing and or whether he contributed the alleged amount or less.

On the resettlement of Nigerian grazers, a classified source hinted this reporter that the Divisional Officer acting on instruction from MINATD recently made a census of the Nigerian grazers. According to what we gathered only two were identified to have taken permanent residence while others have cattle in the municipality with their relatives but are not resident in the Subdivision. Fears abound that with the threats of Boko Haram, the need to control the movement of grazers in the border subdivision is imperative. However, in our quest for uncover the truth we could not get the grazer in question by the time we got to his home. Reportedly he was in Nkambe for other issues.

A classified source at the sub delegation of agriculture told us that they have not been going to the field on farmer/grazer conflict. “We hardly go to the field given that all farmer/grazer problems are handled at the level of the administration”. A farmer in Nton told us that their crops were destroyed by cows and when they complained in a group it was impossible for some farmers to raise money. “Farmers are not at ease, it is difficult for a farmer to acquire farmland whereas it is easy for grazers”. Yet when we got to the DO’s office, we spotted two agric technicians who were going to the field to assess the damages caused by cows. Apparently, it was the chief of agric post for Mfe who was leading the team of evaluators.

More so, the situation is becoming very critical as some traditional rulers have taken advantage of the disorder to allocate farmlands to grazers. The case of Mbong and Bomgom abound high. According to what we gathered the fon of Mbon recently allocated grazing land to a grazer in Bomgom quarter without consulting the immediate sub chief of that area. This obnoxious practice is putting to question the use of the technical services. Apparently, the issue is another hot potato.  

(To be continued)

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

The Yoke of Light ( Poem of the Week)

By Martin-Luther Fon Yembe

A source of hope for all she was

 As bright as light in dark she shone                                   

We danced along her shores for fun

And all along, we had no wars.

Below the mighty Fako foot

The free winds bearing all we need

And all around, we sowed the seed

That filled our homes, with all that’s good.

From down the coast to the grassfield

Uttering no more than “Good morning”

Filling our mouths with songs to sing

Lighting our souls with love fulfilled

From bright Yoke, we had our light

That shone for all, with less to spend

Though we now mourn, and curse and rend

We know for sure, all will be bright

Martin-Luther Fon Yembe

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Time for Donga Mantung Politicians to Reconcile

By Fai Cassian Ndi

If being recognized as a colossus is to guarantee peace, unity and development, then politics is a good game. But when the game is played with bad players it harnesses a vanity of an ego that promotes instability, ethereal and divisive tendencies. The values turn ugly perhaps. Political analysts who  witnessed the tension and the aftermath of the 2013 Twin elections in Donga Mantung left with the passive opinion that what have the influence to alter what we coin our political "reason, vision, and or mission" is sowing a dangerous seed that when it germinates, even it promoters may not be able to harvest.

Priorities can be altered in a fraction of a second whenever men of goodwill have the interest of the people they are serving or want to serve. It can be just one single word or an action because whatever has the strength to destroy, can be used to re-build once again.

Bitterness in politics just doesn't seem to make sense; it needs no justification to exist in the 21^st century. Being lost in the "why" only clouds the ability to pass it and move on. A higher intention awakens when we get to the edge of the precipice and as the bigger picture is exposed and lies out there in front of us. (Don't be afraid to step out of the madding crowd of haters and to stay there is to sacrifice the future of the unborn, development and progress.) The more rooted in love is the higher you fly and the clarity of your duty (purpose) is transformed with good will and forever shining on.

Hate, bitterness and revenge are luxuries politicians of Donga Mantung Division have been offering since the last September 30, 2013 Municipal/ Legislative Elections.  Hatred and bitterness is doing a great deal more damage to the vessel in which it is stored (the population) than the object on which it is poured (the political opponent). I have seen many of them sitting on the table but hidden knives ready to stab the other from behind. It has generated into witch-hunting, character assassination et cetera. I have observed militants of the same political parties not Seeing Eye to eye as well as those of the opposite side. The most dangerous threat is that any action involving this or that personality is sabotaged. Yet what they do not value is that odium leads to great acrimony, which is a deadly misuse of the creative flow from above. This kind of belief is completely unproductive and especially when it is patronized by people who are or want to hold a public trust. Hatred has gradually become a poor travelling companion in Donga Mantung Division causing discrepancy and despondency.

In politics, consciousness always advocated for politicians with character and conscience, but I do not want to think that our politicians are of low political culture, immature to the point that they have been blinded not to understand the essence of it. The situation is very precarious and disturbing especially when the youth are used as toys in the upset.

In Nwa, Misaje and principally Nkambe, some politicians seem to think they can only thrive under a climate of growing political hatred. This is very dangerous, both about the growth of hatred in politics and about its danger to individuals and the polity itself. We are increasingly witnessing covet and identity politics writ the large. It has germinated everywhere to produce the political overreach (a weapon to settle scores). As it is reaching into pockets, bedrooms, private lives – it is now uncontrollable. Donga Mantung has been taken hostage by this dilemma which has no parentage in love, and claims the allegiance of today on the ignorance and blindness of the past.

Every citizen's life in this part of the division is inevitably mixed with every other citizen's life, and no matter which political party they belong, no matter what precautions they take, unless the people of the lie are humane and decent and loving, this part of the country will continue to witness underdevelopment, and to the worse character assassination, blackmail and or life becomes short. Thomas Hubbs says it all about life in the jungle, and nothing is so perfect to Hubbs’ description than the present deadlock in a padlock that always ends in a deadlock in Donga Mantung Division.

The time is now for Donga Mantung politicians to sing the song of oneness, love and forget about their political outlook and affiliations. Until that bitter pile is swallowed by the little drummers hereto comes the glory for a win-win gimmick in Donga Mantung Division which may outsmart the Santa mafia in the game.

The Eye is aware that hatred is born out of envy in excess of the opinionated successes of opponents, and of competitors. But if envy has any shape it is just the boomerang of occurrences that the population is being nurtured with and tortured in. Envy is the most ridiculous of ideas, because there is no single advantage to be gained from it. An old saying goes that "When you compare what you want with what you have, you will be unhappy. Instead, compare what you deserve with what you have and you will discover happiness." The problem is that influencer paddlers have invaded the game and turned it into the game of the mastiff. They fabricate lies, rack in rumours. They want to be what they are not, tell what they think is good for the person they have at hand and bad for the person who is not at hand. The fools themselves love to give the ear and compensations. There is the need for politicians and their supporters to realise that nothing gets you behind faster than trying to fabrications. If envy were a disease, Donga Mantung politicians would all be hospitalized forever. Frances Bacon observes that, "Envy has no holidays. It has no rest." The envy that compares us to others is foolishness.  "They are only comparing themselves with each other, and measuring themselves by themselves. What foolishness!" (2 Corinthians 10:12). Richard Evans Iin trying to decipher what could place the human mind in such an obscure behavior said, "May we never let the things we can't have or don't have spoil our enjoyment of the things we do have and can have." What makes us discontented with our personal condition is the absurd belief that others are so much happier than we are. Thomas Fuller warned, "Comparison, more than a reality, makes men happy or wretched." Hatred and envy consumes nothing but its own heart. It is a kind of admiration for those whom you least want to praise. John Chrysostorm reflected, "As a moth gnaws a garment, so doth envy and hatred consume a man." There are many roads to an unsuccessful life, but hatred and envy are among the shortest of them all. Should Donga Mantung continue on this road?

There is a common saying that you can maintain power over people as long as you give them something. But when you rob a man of everything that man will no longer be in your power. Putting brothers and sisters at loggerhead, separating homes, destroying families is on the menu in Donga Mantung. It is being consumed in an overdosed manner which may lead to an explosion of consciences. My father once told me that “If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it. But the day the truth shall explode, it becomes the mortal enemy of the lie”.

For example in Nkambe, the SDF and the CPDM do not want to see each others. The hatred has escalidated into confrontation, divided homes, entered into all the drinking spots and business places; in fact is a  very dangerous tool in the hands of youths and the speed break to development.

 In Nwa, it is the CPDM against the CPDM. The two elected officials even though from the same political party are like petrol and fire. In such a situation it is the people and development that suffer to their dictates. Nwa is enjoying its fair-share.  

In Misaje, camps have been developed and have grown into full scale. The CPDM is in factions and the council has been fractionalized. Who suffers, it is the people.

The lesson from Ako has always been meaningful, though from different political parties, Hon Abe Michael and Akio Augustine, SDF Mayor of Ako won the admiration of the world when they embraced and warned that anyone who dares will suffer and not development. The promoters of political hatred we taken aback, some sank into their chairs yet, it came to past that the entire Donga Mantung Division can learn from that and reconcile themselves. Ndu and Ako may have their political wrangling but the magnitude is not that of open bitterness.

(We might have avoided names but we will spare no efforts to unmask people anytime there is any attempt by whosoever to disturb the people from reconciling themselves)

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Explosive Interview with Hon. Awudu Mbaya (Video)

The Eye Digital Tv

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Cry for Help; Cameroonian in Thailand Writes to President Biya

Your Excellency, 

Accept greetings from Thailand, I write on behalf of the entire Cameroonian population here in Thailand which stands at an estimated 1500 in number, seeking our government to timely intervene and create a Cameroon embassy here.The political turmoil and military take over here has left every one at the mercy of God.It will therefore be pathetic if other nationals rush to seek protection from their embassies and we Cameroonians are left pondering on the streets due to the absence of an embassy here.Please the head of state, we are appealing to your high office to timely intervene and protect your citizens before it is too late.This is the only means we can get to the head of state at this crucial hour.While awaiting your fatherly intervention we remain your loyal citizens.

                   Tata Kwawi Mbinglo

On behalf of Cameroonians in Thailand

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)

Sisters, Make Your Tomorrow Today

By Hasiatu Sali

Hasiatu Sali- Peer educator

When I was a little girl, I knew life was about cattle and the daily washing of dishes. As a little Mbororo girl I was always beside my mother and my best moment was when she would ask me to fetch water from the stream so that she could wash all the dishes. It was so thrilling and I enjoyed the way my mother was doing it. I knew nothing on earth was more prestigious than what my mother and father used to do everyday to keep our family happy. I knew nothing about education as a way of life and the only way to make tomorrow happen. To be candid, I had no idea why only boys were going to school. To me, school was for boys and going to the stream and cooking was for girls. One day, my father came back from a meeting looking happy. He told us that we will all have a discussion after dinner. We were all waiting anxiously both boys and girls. After our evening meal, he asked my elder brothers whether they knew anything about the Mbororo Cultural and Development Association-MBOSCODA. When they said yes, he replied that they want all the girls to go to school and that in our compound school shall henceforth be for everyone. He then turned to me and said that I shall go to the Islamic Primary School Nkambe. I felt very bad that he was trying to push me aside from helping my mother. That night I did not sleep well because I thought my father wanted me to do what only boys in our compound have been doing. In fact, I thought my father wanted to impose on me things that are done by boys and men. But I first day in school turned out to be an exciting one because I saw many other girls.

Education suddenly became part of my menu. When I had my First School Leaving Certificate, and was admitted at GTHS Nkambe that was when I understood the importance of education. People always say that education is the key to a successful life but I will contextualize it by telling all the young girls (ages 15 and above) that you can make your tomorrow happen today by investing your leisure in education. Dear sisters, you can make your tomorrow today through education. I have decided to tell my life story because I have observed that despite the sacrifices byt government and our parents for some of us to make our tomorrow today, we still disappoint them. In the past, we, Muslim girls were not given the opportunity to go to school, the boys were but today it is different. I feel sad that this opportunity is being squandered by many of us (especially the Mbororo girls).

However, I wish to draw your attention to this fact and at the same time remind all of us if you make education your first husband, it can never fail. An educated housewife is more productive in our contemporary society. On the contrary we are the ones that have always fail education. Education is like the soil where you can only harvest what you have sown.  Today, the evidence is clear that those who own the high herds of cattle and highest number of dishes in their cupboards are the people who sent their children to school. What I have learnt as a High school student is that my going to school has finally taught me that whenever you have a goal, it's a good idea to have both a plan A and a back-up Plan B, unless you are illiterate. What I mean here is that early marriage is the easiest way to frustration and you can avoid if we (young girls) can think out of the box of pleasure. When I was reading a book two days ago, I saw this inspirational quote by Jarod Jintz and it read: The future is right around the corner from a bar called, “Yesterdays.” I know, I work there every tomorrow.

I think it is possible for us to make education our first husband because without education, a woman’s dream cannot come true. It is not only the key of life as we are often told, but the key in your hand that will open every door for you tomorrow. When I was in class six, a friend of mine told me that after our graduation she was getting married. As I am writing my Baccalaureate Technique, she is already a mother of three. But unfortunately she had abandoned the husband on grounds that she made the wrong choice. I have learned one thing that while her husband disappointed her, mine which is education has been very fateful. Every time I am back from school and I see my father coming back from the field, I always think of what he said to me when I obtained my CAP examination. He said “my daughter, I am proud of you”. The sentence was very short but pregnant with meaning. Please, girls do not always disgrace your parents or family due to useless boys who would always like to play us around for their sports. It is your tomorrow that is at stake because HIV/AIDS too is just next door waiting to make new victims.  

Tyron Edward says, “Thoughts lead on to purposes; purposes go forth in action; actions form habits; habits decide character; and character fixes our destiny” in my opinion,  it is what we think today and act that puts forth our tomorrow. Think positive and you will see your tomorrow today by the grace of Allah. Social prestige is equal to social ill given that it can be a good choice at a very wrong time. Making the right choice at the right time paves way for a better tomorrow. That is the quality of life that we need to pay after the price of the bars called “yesterday”, when the night clubs and other fancy things are forgotten. That is why all successful people (men and women) are big dreamers. They imagine what their future could be, ideal in every respect, and then they work every day toward their distant vision, that goal is only possible if we think education, eat education and above all, make it a tradition in our hearts. In the past, our parents had no idea that what a man can do a woman can do it even better, but nowadays it is happening. 

When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)